Business of Sport

Mark Walter and the fire sale of his sporting portfolio has dominated the news this week after he sold the LA Lakers for a record $12.5bn in 48 hours. Now with his stake in Chelsea reportedly up for grabs, what would it mean for the club who has had its fair share of ownership troubles in the last few years? Add to this a look the simmering tensions between the PFA and the EFL as cost controls and player wages face off against each other, and a long awaited review of the booming world of padel, and we have ourselves a breakdown.

Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charlie@20vc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

It's that time of year again, join the Business of Sport FPL (code: p0z0sl) for a chance to win football tickets to a team of your choice + your own personalised Business of Sport shirt: https://fantasy.premierleague.com/leagues/auto-join/p0z0sl

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com⁠⁠

It’s padel week. 135 shows in, and the most requested sport gets its day. There couldn’t be a better person to take us through the world of a sport that has exploded in popularity over the last 10 years than Nikhil Mohindra. A Team GB professional who is also building a padel centre, running a foundation to bring padel to those who haven’t or can’t access it, creating content on his YouTube channel, and playing with the world’s top athletes (Cristiano Ronaldo included), this is proper access to a world we haven’t explored. I know we say behind the scenes a lot, but this really is behind the scenes. Question I’m most intrigued by is whether the demand for padel at a participation level can create the same interest at the elite. Let’s find out as we welcome Nikhil to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex
The intelligent financial platform for global businesses
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gemini
We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geminisports.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com⁠⁠

In the week where UEFA, CONCACAF & AFC clubbed together to inform FIFA and Infantino of their collective stance post privatisation scandal, we have to keep across what it means for football and its governance structures moving forward. Add to this a look at whether Jeff Bezos type wealth really matters in modern football ownership, how LIV has reportedly managed to convince anyone to invest up to $300m in the crippled tour, and a long overdue deep dive into MotoGP after the British Grand Prix, and we have ourselves a Breakdown. If you want to hear part one of our Premier League season preview, looking at how each club is positioned heading into the new season, from our business angle of course, come and join us on Substack.

Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠charlie@20vc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com⁠⁠

Have you ever heard of the owner who’s the manager who’s been the CEO as well as the kitman? Well if you haven’t, you’re about to, and this is a serious conversation despite at times seeming comical when you read that out.
Marc White founded Dorking Wanderers in 1999 with a group of friends in the lowest division of English football, 17 tiers below the Premier League. In the last few years, they have got as high as the 5th, just one promotion from the EFL. Marc is still the owner, and the manager. His views on football as a business, how you can prove yourself without a background in the game, and building a club that does not run the risk of going out of business is one that anyone who tunes into this show regularly will love. As you will see, he is also a massive character. Time to meet him. I’m delighted to welcome Marc to the Business of Sport.

A huge thank you to our amazing partners on the show: 

Airwallex
The intelligent financial platform for global businesses
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.airwallex.com/uk/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Gemini
We empower the most confident sports organisations on Earth
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://geminisports.ai/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com⁠

After one of the most chaotic weeks in football, FIFA’s withdrawal of their privatisation plan would have been welcome news for virtually everyone, but what does that mean moving forward? Can Infantino cling to power? Does it actually matter when the real problem is the voting system? It’s time to look ahead as the dust settles just a little. Add to that a detailed look at West Ham’s ownership struggle as Amanda Staveley eyes an investment, and an update on horse racing after the huge news that the Jockey Club is leaving the Racecourse Association, and we have ourselves a breakdown.

Disclaimer:
The content of this podcast is intended as commentary and opinion on matters of public interest in the sports industry. While we make every effort to ensure accuracy, figures, statistics, and financial data referenced may be based on publicly available estimates and could be subject to error or change. Nothing in this podcast should be taken as a statement of fact. If you believe any information is inaccurate, please contact us at ⁠⁠⁠⁠charlie@20vc.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and we will endeavour to correct the record promptly.

We're delighted to also partner with the Global Institute Of Sport:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://gis.sport/BoS⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Subscribe to our Substack for bonus content:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://substack.com/@businessofsport⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

If you’re interested in partnering with the show, please reach out to us at:
⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠bos@20vc.com⁠⁠